SWBC: All the Star Wars book news from Comic-Con
SWBC: All the Star Wars book news from Comic-Con
Plus: "Tales of Light and Life" and "Crimson Climb" have arrived!
Star Wars book news and reveals from SDCC
The third and final phase of The High Republic arrives this fall, and we finally got glimpses at the stunning covers for the first wave of books and comics.
George Mann’s The Eye of Darkness cover was revealed a few weeks ago, featuring Eye of the Nihil Marchion Ro clutching a yellow lightsaber and lounging on his throne. The first phase 3 adult novel arrives on Nov. 14.
During San Diego Comic-Con last weekend, covers for Escape from Valo, Defy the Storm, and several comics were revealed.
ICYMI: All The High Republic reveals from Star Wars Celebration
Escape from Valo is a new middle-grade novel by Daniel José Older and Alyssa Wong. The cover features Ram Jomaram alongside a few new Jedi Padawans on the planet Valo, which was brutally attacked during the Republic Fair in The Rising Storm. Escape from Valo arrives on Jan. 30, 2024.
With Defy the Storm by Tessa Gratton and Justina Ireland, the young adult High Republic novels continue their streak of dark and stunning cover art. This one sees Vernestra Rwoh, Jordana Sparkburn, and Avon Starros surrounded by fearsome Nihil.
With how much I — and many others — loved Gratton’s and Ireland’s Path of Deceit, it’s safe to say Defy the Storm is one I’m most excited for. That one’s out on March 12, 2024.
For comics, the Lucasfilm Publishing panel showed off The High Republic and Shadows of Starlight from Marvel and The High Republic Adventures from Dark Horse.
The first issue of The High Republic phase 3 series echoes the very first issue from phase 1, featuring Keeve Trennis front and center. But instead of Avar Kriss and Skeer beside her, there’s Lourna Dee (has she switched sides?) and Terec (or maybe it’s Ceret).
One of the biggest cover reveals from SDCC was of Shadows of Starlight #2, which shows Elzar Mann standing on a cliff near the wreckage of Starlight Beacon. Shadows of Starlight is a comic miniseries set a year after the fall of the space station. The first issue arrives on Oct. 4 (my birthday!).
And, of course, The High Republic Adventures returns with some of our favorite Jedi Padawans. This series is set to follow the continuing adventures of Zeen and Qort after the fall of Starlight Beacon and the mission on Corellia.
More from the Lucasfilm Publishing panel:
— A peek inside the pages of The High Republic Character Encyclopedia (Dec. 5)
— First look at panels from Star Wars: Dark Droids and Dark Droids: D-Squad (Aug. 2 and Sept. 20)
— Panels from inside Tales from the Death Star (Sept. 26)
— Cover reveal and character pages from the new reference book, Star Wars: Dawn of the Rebellion: The Visual Guide (Dec. 5)
Which book or comic are you most excited for? Let me know in the comments!
Star Wars book mail
It’s always a great day when I get surprise book mail, especially when I had been stressing over if/when I would get these books.
But Disney Books came through for me and a bunch of other reviewers by sending advanced copies of Crimson Climb and The High Republic: Tales of Light and Life.
Crimson Climb comes from Queen’s trilogy and Ahsoka author E.K. Johnston and arrives in bookstores on Oct. 10. The young adult novel follows Qi’ra after she’s left behind on Corellia during the events of Solo: A Star Wars Story. It then charts her rise in the ranks in the Crimson Dawn crime syndicate.
Tales of Light and Life is a young adult anthology of short stories set during the first two phases of The High Republic. The book’s release date is Sept. 5, though it was released early for San Diego Comic-Con.
There was a bit of confusion surrounding this new High Republic title because of the changing release dates. There was also frustration over its early release at SDCC — nearly a month and a half before the publication date. Previous ebook release dates said July 25, then Aug. 1.
But Michael Siglain, creative director at Lucasfilm Publishing, recently cleared everything up in a post on Twitter (X?):
For those of you asking, "SWTHR: Tales of Light and Life" was sold exclusively at SDCC during the show, and will be released into the wild on September 5th. This goes for the physical book, ebook, audio book, and the B&N special edition.
Don’t forget, Barnes & Noble has an exclusive edition of Tales of Light and Life featuring a new story from Alyssa Wong (Doctor Aphra) and an exclusive cover design.
New on the Gram!
If you follow me on Instagram, you may have noticed that I finally changed my name from “adastralibri” to “spacewizardsbookclub.”
My content remains the same — mostly Star Wars books, and occasionally other fantasy and sci-fi reads. It was just past time for ~synergy~ between this newsletter and my main bookish social account.
Over on TikTok, I’m still “chelszreads.”
Do you have bookish pages? Follow me on Instagram and TikTok and I’ll follow you back!
Star Wars books and comics out this week
July 25
July 26
Hyperspace Stories #6
Darth Vader: Black, White & Red #4
The Mandalorian Season 2 #2